By David Helwig
SooToday.com
Friday, December 25, 2009

At 3:48 p.m. this Christmas Day, Environment Canada has added new regions to its freezing rain warning.

Interestingly, there are no current warnings for Sault Ste. Marie or St. Joseph Island, even though there are warnings for most other parts of Northeastern Ontario.

The following warning remains in effect for Gogama - Foleyet - Chapleau - Missinaibi Lake - White River - Dubreuilville - Wawa - Pukaskwa Park - Agawa - Lake Superior Park - Searchmont - Montreal River Harbour - Batchawana Bay - Elliot Lake - Ranger Lake, as well as the Kirkland Lake, New Liskeard, Temagami, Sudbury and North Bay regions.

The radar image shown above was taken at 2:20 p.m.

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Freezing rain spreading into these regions from the south.

This is a warning that an extended period of freezing rain is imminent or occurring in these regions.

Monitor weather conditions. Listen for updated statements.

The much-advertised Texas storm will bring a wintry mix of freezing rain along with some snow and rain to the warned areas.

There is potential for an extended period of freezing rain especially for regions north of Lake Huron where two to five millimetres or more of ice may accumulate on untreated surfaces.

While the freezing rain has now ended for the Sault Ste Marie area the freezing rain warning will likely be extended further north into Chapleau, Kirkland Lake, New Liskeard, Temagami and possibly Wawa with the afternoon issue of the public forecasts by 4 p.m.

Travellers are advised to take extreme caution and allow for extra time to reach their destinations.

Environment Canada will continue to monitor this developing situation closely.

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